Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-09-15
HEIRESS HUNTING.

''She must be SICK" said Elite Hall
to herself, cor else she would have
been here long ago. Poor Justine!
somehow things are arranged very
strangely in this world can't under
stand what it all means, nor what
have done that | should be rich and
courted, while Justine Maynard, who
was my classmate at Madame Paulinis,
trims dresses for living She isn't to
blame because her guardian was a
villain. | deserve no credit for the
skillful management of Uncle Crotch
ley, whereby my dollars all became
eagles. | only wish she would let me
divide with her but she has too much
of the naughty Maynard blood in her
veins for that! I'll 60 to see her"
And Elite Hall ran up stairs into a
little boudoir to tie on her hat. Just
as she came out, the maid brought up
a card on a silver salver.
Elites tell-tale eyes sparkled as she
glanced at the Roman lettered inscrip-
ton on the one side:
MARKHAM FERNLEY.
And then taking it up, perused on the
reverse the following words:
May accompany you to the opera tonight?
Yours ever devotedly, NJ. f.
please ma am" said Barbara, the
maid 1.-The man is waiting for an
answer"
Elite caught up sheet of pink note
hurriedly scrubbed upon it the one
word Yes"
Give that to him." she said, and
hurried off.
Justine Maynard's little room was
no luXuriously appointed nest of lace
and gold and Administer. Bare and
cold, and poverty-stricken, its cracked
walls and sloping roof gained no glow
from the rosy sunset; and Justine her
self lay on the bed, with hands pressed
to her throbbing forehead.
''Only headache, DEAR" she said
essayin@ 4 faint smile, as Elite Hall
hurried toward her. '.That is all. And
| have been little worried with the
landlord; he will be back again
presently for the money that shall not
be able to give him. If he would only
wait until tomorrow"
Let me pay him, Justine"
i am not Il beggar yet, Etta-nay,
do not look hurt | know how tender
and larGe-Souled you are; but | have
never YET accepted charity, even from
SO dear a friend as you, and | never
will-no not ii die first. Tomorrow
| can take that satin dress home and
receive SO for making it. That will
set me all right. | should have re-
turned It to-n'ght, but this pain makes
a mere child Of me.
Little turned and for the first time
saw folded dress upon the table--a
robe OF wine-colored satin, richly
trimmed with costly thread lace, for
Justine Maynard earned her bread by
the toilsome plying of her needle, a
dreSsmaker, poorly paid, and stung by
many chance word and cutting
-Sneer.
Justine" said she, I've an idea,
I'll take this dress home for you. I'll
get the money and bring it back"
Nonsense, Ettie'
Very good sense on the contrary"
And Elite deity placed 1t within
sheets of brown paper wrapping and
tied it up.
Come, where is it to go?"
ITO Miss Fernley, Middleton Square.
Oh. Elite! how shall | ever pay YOU for
all your kindness?"
Elite was tying a dark brown vail so
closely over her hat that Justine May
nard never saw the deep dye on her
cheek. She was almost sorry she had
offered to take Florine Fernley's new
dress home. For second her Eesolu-
ton wavered. and then she reproached
herself for even that seconds indie
eiSion.
''I'll be back very soon, DEAR" she
said STOPPING to press her cool lips to
Justines fevered brow. ''And I'll brin g
the money, too, or mistake my own
talent at the debt collecting business.
She hurried away with the bundle
neatly balanced in her arms, and
walked rapidly, lest her resolution
should fail her. 1t was not a long
walk, for the Fernleys lived in Middle
ton square, but a few blocks distant.
And Ettiew went up the steps of the
marble fronted mansion, wondering if
she should see Markham.
Elite Hall was not certain, but she
was beginning to suspect that she
liked the handsome young fellow,
whose dark eyes and ietty curls were
such counterpart to her own blonde
beauty Nor was she altogether dis
pleased with this curious adventure
which was leading her toward him.
A smart, blue-ribboned maid came
to the door.
Yes, Miss Fernley was at home,
aud with supereilious insolence which
made Elites blood boil, the girl point
ed up dark stairway.
'sJust up there and you'll find her
First door to the left.
Miss Elite Hall followed the direc
tons and found herself in a twilight
apartment. where draped mirrors ane
sweet faint scents betrayed the mani